A broken bone from a Texas car accident can support a claim for surgery, therapy, lost income, and pain when the other driver was at fault. Owsley Law Firm reviews these cases free and charges no fee unless we win.
Fractures are among the clearest injuries in a car accident claim, because an X-ray shows the break. That clarity can make an insurer's job harder when it wants to minimize the case, but it does not make the case simple. The real questions are how bad the fracture is, how long recovery will take, whether the bone heals fully, and what it means for your work and your life.
In Texas, a fracture claim is built on the same basic structure as any injury claim: fault, damages, and coverage. What varies is how much of the story depends on the type of break, the surgery it requires, and whether permanent limits remain afterward.
A fracture claim rewards steady, documented recovery. Whether you were hurt on the Gulf Freeway, on a Harris County side street, or in a parking lot, the same principles apply: see a doctor promptly, follow the treatment plan, and keep every record of what the injury cost you.
Common fractures in crashes
Wrists, arms, ribs, collarbones, legs, ankles, hips, and facial bones are frequently broken in vehicle collisions.
Drivers often brace against the steering wheel, which sends force into the wrists and forearms. Front seat passengers may hit the dashboard and break legs, kneecaps, or hips. Seat belts save lives but can cause collarbone and rib fractures. Motorcyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerable to leg and pelvis fractures.
A simple, closed fracture can heal in a cast. An open (compound) fracture, where the bone breaks through the skin, needs surgical treatment, and a comminuted fracture, where the bone shatters, often needs plates, screws, or rods, sometimes over multiple procedures.
Surgery, hardware, and recovery
Many fractures need surgery followed by weeks of protected healing and then months of therapy.
Recovery often follows stages: surgery or casting, a period of limited weight bearing, then physical therapy to restore strength and motion. Some patients later have hardware removed or need further procedures if the bone heals poorly.
Each stage generates medical bills and time away from ordinary life. Keep a full record, because an insurer will look for any gap or missed therapy session to argue the recovery should have been faster.
- Emergency care and imaging
- Surgery and hospital stay, where needed
- Casts, braces, crutches, or a wheelchair
- Physical therapy and occupational therapy
- Follow-up procedures if healing is incomplete
Permanent effects even after the bone heals
A healed fracture can still leave arthritis, stiffness, weakness, scarring, or a lasting change in how you move.
A broken bone that involves a joint, such as the ankle, wrist, elbow, or knee, can lead to post-traumatic arthritis years later. A fractured leg may heal slightly shorter or with a changed gait. Surgical scars are permanent and can be disfiguring, particularly on the face or hands.
These long-term effects matter in a claim, because they support future medical costs, ongoing pain, physical impairment, and disfigurement. A treating physician's opinion about what to expect is the best way to bring those concerns into the case.
Lost income and job limits
A fracture can keep you off work for weeks or months, and permanent limits can change your career.
Someone with a broken dominant wrist may be unable to type, drive a truck, or operate machinery. A leg fracture may remove a person from a job that requires standing or climbing. Document your duties, the dates you missed, and any written work restrictions from your doctor.
For hourly and self-employed workers, wage records or invoices before and after the crash help calculate the loss. If you cannot return to the same job, vocational evidence about lost earning capacity may be needed.
Fault and the shape of the claim
Proving the other driver caused the crash, and understanding available coverage, drives what can be recovered.
The clearer a fracture is, the more an insurer may try to shift blame. Texas reduces your recovery by your share of fault and bars it above 50 percent. Police reports, witness names, scene photographs, and any video should be collected early.
If the at-fault driver has low insurance limits, your own underinsured motorist coverage may be important. In truck and rideshare crashes, there may be additional insurance layers. Ask a lawyer to identify every possible source of coverage before you accept an offer.
What to expect from the process
A fracture claim usually moves in stages: treatment, an opinion on permanent effects, a demand, then negotiation or suit.
In the first weeks the focus is medical. Keep every bill and explanation of benefits, and photograph the injury as the swelling, bruising, and casting change. Do not settle during this period, since nobody yet knows how the bone will heal.
Once your surgeon or orthopedist releases you or describes your permanent limits, your lawyer can put together a demand that includes medical records, wage loss, and the long-term picture. The insurer responds, and negotiation follows. If the offer is too low, filing suit protects your rights before the two-year deadline and often moves the case forward.
Keep your own timeline honest and simple. The cleanest cases are those where treatment was steady, the injured person followed advice, and the story from the scene to the surgeon's report hangs together.
What evidence proves it
- X-rays and surgical reports
- Hospital, rehabilitation, and therapy records
- A physician's statement about permanent effects and future care
- Photographs of injuries, casts, scars, and swelling over time
- Pay records and employer statements about missed work
- The crash report and scene evidence
Mistakes that cost people money
- Returning to activity before your doctor clears you
- Skipping physical therapy
- Discarding medical equipment receipts and mileage records
- Accepting an offer before the doctor explains permanent effects
- Posting photos of yourself doing physical activity while claiming limits
Frequently asked questions
What is a broken bone claim worth in Texas?
It depends on the type of fracture, surgery, recovery time, lost income, permanent effects, fault, and insurance available. Any figure offered without those facts is a guess.
Do I need surgery to have a claim?
No. A fracture treated with a cast can still support a claim, though the value will reflect the treatment and recovery.
What if my bone healed but I still have pain?
Ongoing pain, stiffness, or arthritis after healing can be part of the claim. Keep seeing your provider and document the symptoms.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurer?
Be careful. You can give basic information, but avoid recorded statements and do not sign releases before speaking with a lawyer.
This page is general information about Texas law and is not legal or medical advice. Every case depends on its own facts. Contact the firm for a free review of yours.
Keep reading
